ESL Podcast 299 - An Old Love
an item - a romantic couple; a romantic pair
When Paul and Emily became an item, all of the other high school students knew about it immediately.
old flame - someone with whom one used to have a romantic relationship; an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
Carol is one of Miguel's old flames, but now they're just good friends.
ancient history - something that happened long ago and is no longer relevant or important
Renee used to work as a financial analyst, but now she's a professional actress and her old job is ancient history.
to lose touch - to no longer communicate with someone; to not talk or write to someone whom one used to be close to
Veronica lost touch with many of her friends when she moved from Ohio to Alaska.
out of the blue - unexpectedly; suddenly; without being expected or planned
We had planned to go to Maine for the holidays, but out of the blue, Greg said that he wanted to go to Paris instead.
to be dying of curiosity - to be very anxious to know something; to be filled with curiosity; to be impatient to learn something
Yolanda is dying of curiosity to know what her husband bought her for her birthday.
to have feelings for (someone) - to be romantically interested in someone; to want to start a romantic relationship with someone
If you have feelings for Terry, then ask him out on a date!
to catch up on old times - to talk about the past with someone whom you haven't seen or spoken with in a long time
Yesterday I met an old friend for lunch and we had fun catching up on old times, since we hadn't talked in six years. (one) might as well - there's no reason not to do something; there's no reason not to; one has no objection to doing something
Even though you don't have very much experience, you might as well apply for the job. The worst that can happen is that you won't get it.
to make an excuse - to state a reason for doing (or not doing) something, especially when that reason isn't true
I need to make an excuse so that I don't have to go to that party tonight.
to avoid (someone) - to try not to be near someone; to try to ignore someone; to try to stay away from someone
I think Gerald is avoiding me. I know he saw me at the store, but he didn't smile or say "hi."
afterwards - later; then; after something else has happened
First, they're going to eat dinner together, and afterwards, they're going to see a movie.
social life - participation in activities that let one interact with other people; spending time with other people for friendship
Susan has a busy social life. This weekend, for example, she's going to two parties and a wedding, and then she's taking her nieces to the park!
to live vicariously through (someone) - to listen to someone talk about his or her life and imagine that those things are happening to oneself, because one has an uninteresting life
Sometimes parents try to live vicariously though their children, but the children usually don't like that very much.
to make things up - to imagine something; to pretend that something is happening
When Becky was a child, she was always making things up, telling her friends that she was a princess, for example.
to pester (someone) - to bother someone; to annoy someone; to do things that make another person feel frustrated or angry
Does your little brother pester you a lot?